The partying hots up as the big game gets closer. skysports.com is there to enjoy it all on your behalf.
2.30 PM Super Bowl Press Conference
After spending the morning working off the night's exertions in the comfort of my bed - mainly thanks to the fact that there was little of note going on on Radio Row - I go down to the Media Centre.
The room is crowded with journalists, all eagely anticipating the Hall of Fame announcements. Will Art Monk, the famous Washington Redskins receiver finally make it? Will the 'new school' of receivers to the Hall of Fame ballot - for example Andre Reed and Chris Carter - be immediate shoo-ins?
After a small countdown where the numbers of greats are eliminated, the five selected to the "House of the Greatest" are selected. The Washington Redskins have an incredible day - with Monk and cornerback Darrell Green both selected. New England Patriots had another reason for a big weekend in Arizona, as current staff member and former linebacker Andre Tippett is also selected for greatness. Fred Dean of the San Franscisco 49ers and Denver offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman, who starred with the Broncos are also 'in', alongside Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Emmitt Thomas.
Green is the most emotional of everyone, thanking God at almost every turn, while Art Monk is more quietly spoken - as was the case in his career - during a phone interview.
3.30 PM - 6 PM Leigh Steinburg Party
It's not normal that I cut off the NFL's Hall of Fame ceremony to go to a party. But then again, it's not every day that you get an invite to power agent Leigh Steinburg's party, which is based in the scenic Phoenix Desert Botanic Gardens. It's a wonderful event, with a silent auction for various sporting goods as well as the usual mix of the great and the good from the NFL and even Hollywood. NFL Hall of Famer Warren Moon is in attendance, and tells me that he's still grateful to the Canadian Football League for giving him the opportunity to play. Also in attendance is Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, as well as Wade Phillips, his coach. From the world of celebrity is "Transformers", "Armageddon" and, er, "Pearl Harbour" director Michael Bay, who seems to be on fine form.
7 PM - 11 PM NFL Super Bowl Saturday Night, Tempe
Having missed the Super Bowl Saturday night event in Miami last year, I was determined to make it this year. And with the Counting Crows playing live (and for free), thank God I did. Crows lead singer Adam Duritz is on fine form, giving us songs from the band's new album "Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings", as well as the old stuff. We all sing along to "Mr Jones", "Rain King" as well their hit song "Accidentally In Love", which made it onto the movie "Shrek".
As the Counting Crows faded away into the sunset, suddenly the sky seemed to explode with fireworks. It was like New Year's, Fireworks Night and the Queen's 50th Jubilee rolled into one monstrous multicoloured firework. There was also a pretty useful soundtrack backing up the explosions, with the likes of Van Halen, Guns 'N' Roses, and other songs, ranging from rap to country, making an appearance. And the crowd absolutely loved it, giving the skies a wild round of applause when it finished.
11.30 PM Bud Bowl, Scottsdale
It's not every day you meet a 'Good Samaritan'. But at the extravaganza, we met one. Brian and Roger, who are housemates from Ohio living in Tempe, offered Sky Sports a lift back to "Scottsvegas" after the show was over. Skysports gladly accepted, ignoring all rules that Mother taught us about talking to strangers. In turn, I gained them entry into Budweiser's fantastic event the "Bud Bowl", which was situated right next to Scottsdale hotspots Axis/Radius. It was essentially a block party. But hey - what a block party. Over two sets of bars leading onto the stage were giant tents, lit up with Bud's big colours of red and blue. And entertaining us at the end of the 'block' was one Kid Rock, who blew the house away. Everybody was jumping around like schoolchildren as the former husband of Pamela Anderson sung out classics like "Cowboy", and "Amen", fusing together cracking country with hip-hop for a unique sound that was lapped out by the 2,000 or so in attendance.
12.20 PM - 944 Village, Scottsdale
Unfortunately I had to leave the Bud Bowl - I had another big party to get to - and this time it was involving one of the UK's biggest dance acts as Paul Oakenfold took to the decks at one of the week's premier party events. Situated on Scottsdale's picturesque waterfront complex, the chaps at 944 Magazine, teaming up with various corporate sponsors, put up a monstrous tent and created a luxurious venue. Paris Hilton, Juliette & The Licks had partied there in the days previous, and Velvet Revolver had just finished dropping the crowd's jaws a little time before I arrived. Oakenfold dropped his tunes in style, throwing out mixes of Josh Wink classic "Higher State of Consciousness" as well as Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" to a happy audience. Watching on was St Louis Rams offensive linesman Nick Leckey, who told Skysports.com that he was a 'massive, massive' Chelsea fan. So deep is his obsession with the 'beautiful game', he says, that he watches non-stop Champions League matches and Premiership football. I tell him he should move to London, which gets a wry smile from his ladyfriend.
1.30 AM - 3.30 AM The Aftermath
If there's one thing that's been bad about this week in Scottsdale, it's been the sheer hassle of getting a cab. As the bars and clubs close their doors, thousands pour onto the street, battling each other to get cabs. After an hour or so of mind-numbing cold, I finally get one. Who says being a member of the media is easy?
